Friday, July 29, 2011

Kindle ebooks: How to buy and install them now that the store is gone

Kindle ebooks: How to buy and install them now that the store is gone -

Since Amazon acquiesced to Apple's onerous rules and removed the one-click buy button from the Kindle apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, a couple of mainstream websites have whined that it's "too hard to buy ebooks on your iPad now." Yes, it is horribly difficult -- you now have to click or tap twice to buy and download a book instead of just once. I'm going to take you through this back-breaking and time-consuming process, just to show you how hard Apple has made it for us to buy ebooks from anywhere but the iBookstore.

To start, launch Safari on your device and navigate to the Kindle bookstore. To keep from wearing yourself out doing this in the future, add a button to your iPad or iPhone home screen by tapping the Share button in Safari and then tapping the "Add to Home Screen" button. Make sure you're logged in with the account that you use for your Kindle purchases, and then find the book you want to purchase in the Kindle Store.

Now, here comes the hard part, so be sure to pay attention. Over on the right side of the screen is a button marked "Buy now with 1-click." Just below it is a drop-down menu listing all of your Kindle devices, which in my case consists of the Kindle app on two Macs, an iPad 2, and an iPhone 4.

Select the first device you want to have the ebook delivered to, and then click (or tap) the Buy now button -- that's the first tap, and in the old days before Apple made our lives difficult with their burdensome rules, that would be the only tap you'd have to make. Instead, now a new page appears thanking you for your purchase. In my example, I picked my iPad 2 as the target for the book, and the web page asked if I wanted to open Kindle for iPad to begin downloading the book.

With a tap of the "Go to Kindle for iPad" button, the Kindle app launches and the ebook is downloaded. What??? I have to make a second tap to download my book? I demand that Apple make retribution for this oppressive over-control of my life!

It's not as easy as just tapping one button in the Kindle app and having the ebook automagically appear on your bookshelf, but once you've found the book, it just takes two taps for it to show up. And yes, I am being totally sarcastic with this post.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Rumor: Apple May Buy Barnes & Noble

Rumor: Apple May Buy Barnes & Noble -

Apple, Barnes & Noble, and YouBGR reports that an "unproven source" delivered a tip that Apple is considering buying Barnes & Noble for approximately $1.5 billion. Interesting idea, as Apple could absorb B&N's vast ebook library into iBooks, and possibly convert several of the retail stores into new Apple stores.

Apple certainly has the money, could this be one of the "strategic opportunities" Steve Jobs was alluding to? A move like this makes a lot of sense and would tie in nicely with growing the iBooks platform, particularly if it would expand the capabilities to buy and rent textbooks.

Again, BGR makes it clear that the source is unproven, but is allegedly someone claiming to have knowledge of discussions within Apple regarding this deal.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

How to Install and Set Up Mac OS X Lion Server

How to Install and Set Up Mac OS X Lion Server -

Apple's offered the gift of Lion Server to anyone who's willing to drop an extra $50. Previously, you could only get OS X Server bundled on your Mac mini Server or Mac Pro, or pay $499 for Snow Leopard Server. By lowering the price, now more end users can afford Apple’s server offerings. In this article, we’ll show you how to download and set up Lion server on your Mac.

What You Need:

>> Mac already running Lion
>> Always-on internet connection (DSL, Cable, etc.)
>> Mac App Store account
>> (Optional) Custom domain name with DNS hosting


Difficulty: Hard

A note about running Lion Server on your Mac: With Lion server, you can either purchase a new Mac mini server or Mac Pro with the Server installation already on it; or, you can download the Server application from the Mac App Store for $50, and run Lion Server on any Mac that you own that can run Lion (this includes Core 2 Duo Macs and up).

(Via Mac|Life all.)

iMac vs. Mac mini: Which One Is Right For You?

iMac vs. Mac mini: Which One Is Right For You? -

iMac vs. Mac mini

Now that eighty percent of Apple’s five Mac product lines have been souped up with Intel Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt I/O ports, desk-bound consumers may find themselves in a bit of a quandary as to which one to buy. Does it still make sense to buy an iMac with such a fully featured Mac mini now available? Read on to find out.

Since its introduction in 1998, the iMac has remained the “go to” all-in-one desktop computer for most Mac users. After all, one price gets you a large, bright display that also happens to house the computer and many peripherals, complete with a wireless keyboard and mouse to make the package complete. Why would users who don’t need internal expansion slots look elsewhere?

That logic made sense -- the Mac Pro is too much computer for many users, and the Mac mini introduced in 2005 was woefully underpowered for all but casual internet and word processing duties. That is, until last year, when the Mac mini got a sexy new look that made desktop fans stop and take another look.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

12 Mac Apps We Can’t Live Without

12 Mac Apps We Can’t Live Without -

The day you get a new computer can be an awesome day. Everything smells like an Apple store, your computer’s body is flawless, — even the keys are more click-y. But it’s also a day where you find out how much your computer was customized and personalized, tailored to your use. We took a look at our current computers and decided which apps we couldn’t live without it.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Apple TV Focuses on Sales, Competition Focuses on Refunds

Apple TV Focuses on Sales, Competition Focuses on Refunds -

Apple TVApple TV may be a hobby for Cupertino, but Google TV devices are a nightmare for manufacturers. 

Logitech, manufacturer of the Google TV enabled Revue, recently admitted to "very modest sales" of the set top device in the last quarter. So modest, in fact, that numbers were actually upside down during the quarter, with returns outpacing new sales. Which is never good. Logitech is countering by reducing the price of the Revue from $249 to an Apple TV-ish price of $99; this massive price slash will cost Logitech $34 billion in one time charges, which is really never good. 

One possible ray of hope for the once-heralded "Apple TV killer" is that Google plans to upgrade Google TV with Honeycomb by the end of summer. This timing, however, sort of coincides with the scheduled release of iOS 5, which is rumored to include Apple TV with some fierce new features.

Steve Jobs has explained why Apple uses the phrase "hobby" when describing the Apple TV: mainly, he blames it on the theory that the market is ruined because TV viewers do not want to buy boxes for viewing, they want them as part of a monthly bill. Without a viable "go-to-market" strategy, Apple TV remains something neat and fun for a niche market segment, like, well, a hobby.

For now. 

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Amazon tablet seen as a Nook Color rival, not iPad

Amazon tablet seen as a Nook Color rival, not iPad - Amazon's upcoming Android tablet may just be a competitor to the Nook Color rather than an iPad rival. Insiders added Thursday that it would really just be an "advanced e-reader" that, like Barnes & Noble's hardware, had a color screen and some apps. The focus, SAI heard, was on filling a hole where the Kindle was "most vulnerable." ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Apple has more money than Uncle Sam

Apple has more money than Uncle Sam - The U.S. Treasury declares that it has reserves of $73.768 billion. Apple, on the other hand, has $75.876 billion. Should Steve Jobs be brought in to solve the debt crisis?

(Via CNET News.com.)

Amazon reportedly ramping up 7- and 10-inch tablets

Amazon reportedly ramping up 7- and 10-inch tablets - The online retailer is reportedly busy lining up suppliers in time to launch both a 7-inch and 10-inch tablet sometime in the third quarter.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Tweets in space! Astronaut shares photos from space station (photos)

Tweets in space! Astronaut shares photos from space station (photos) - Using NASA's Nikon D3S, astronauts post images of newly retired shuttle Atlantis, Earth, and mission spacewalks via Twitter.

(Via CNET News.com.)

CPR site lets you choose and touch chests, guilt-free

CPR site lets you choose and touch chests, guilt-free - The American Heart Association has found that even a brief 60-second CPR video increases one's willingness to attempt giving CPR and improves outcome, so is encouraging users to try it out online.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Doubts cast on rumor of Apple buying Barnes & Noble

Doubts cast on rumor of Apple buying Barnes & Noble - Responding to a new rumor that Apple is considering a purchase of bookseller Barnes & Noble, one Wall Street analyst has said he doesn't think such a deal would make much sense for the iPhone maker.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Kobo App Removes Its Store

The Kobo App Removes Its Store -

Jim Dovey, developer of the Kobo iOS app, on the changes they were forced to make to keep it in the App Store:

The store was removed because Apple rejected any updates which included it, period. They also rejected any updates which stated that Apple required its removal, or indeed any mention of ‘compliance with App Store guidelines’. It was further rejected for the cardinal sin of allowing users to create a Kobo account within the app. Then it was rejected for providing a link to let users create an account outside the app. Then it was rejected for simply mentioning that it was possible to sign up, with no direction on where or how one could do that. Then it was rejected for making any mention of the Kobo website. Then for any mention of ‘our website’ at all, in any language. We additionally cannot make any assertions that Kobo provides content for sale, however obliquely.

Capricious.

I should note, however, that the Borders app for the US was subject to almost NONE of these restrictions. This is all the more amusing since the Borders US app is built from the exact same source code, with a different colour scheme and titles.

But it seems like Amazon is under the same restrictions with the Kindle app — not only does the latest version of the Kindle app not have a link to the Kindle Store, but there is no mention of the Kindle Store within the app, period. Maybe Borders got a pass because they’re going bankrupt? As it stands, this is very strange — you can create a Kobo account within the Borders iPhone app, but not within the Kobo iPhone app.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

How Fast is a Throw From Center Field?

How Fast is a Throw From Center Field? - At what speed did the Cardinals' center fielder Rick Ankiel lob a ball to third base? Physicist and blogger Rhett Allain crunches the numbers to find out.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

How and when to reset your Mac’s PRAM and SMC

How and when to reset your Mac’s PRAM and SMC -

There are times when your Mac will just start misbehaving. Video settings getting reset, fans start running at full speed, keyboard lights don’t come on when they should.  This is most likely to happen following a hardware upgrade, extended power outage or even a major software upgrade (like Lion). In those cases, sometimes you need to reset your Mac’s parameter random access memory (PRAM) or system management controller (SMC) to get things running smoothly again.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8 Supplemental Update for Snow Leopard

Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8 Supplemental Update for Snow Leopard -

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow LeopardYou might think that Apple is done with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard now that OS X 10.7 Lion has hit the streets -- but you’d be wrong! Lovers of the snowy cat can head over to Software Update, where they’ll find Mac OS X 10.6.8 awaiting them again… sort of. Confused? Read on.

Apple has released several updates to Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard on Monday which promise to address some issues for those who haven’t yet made the leap to OS X Lion, as well as other fixes. But didn’t we already install Mac OS X 10.6.8? You are correct -- and the version you’ll get via Software Update will vary depending on where you stand right now.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Monday, July 25, 2011

Apple releases OS X 10.6.8 supplemental update

Apple releases OS X 10.6.8 supplemental update - Apple releases OS X 10.6.8 supplemental update Lion may be the new leader of the Mac OS X pride, but Apple hasn't forgotten Snow Leopard users: On Monday, the company released Mac OS X 10.6.8 and Mac OS X 10.6.8 Server Supplemental Update, which offers fixes and patches for minor Snow Leopard issues.

(Via Macworld.)

Google Docs bumps maximum file size to 10GB

Google Docs bumps maximum file size to 10GB - The search giant has increased the size of files that can be uploaded and stored to its Google Docs to 10GB from 1GB previously.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Friday, July 22, 2011

5 apps for geocaching

5 apps for geocaching -

Although I'm much more likely to spend a lovely summer day with my butt glued to the chair working on a new TUAW post, I do enjoy the sport/hobby/game of geocaching. If you're not familiar with the term, geocaching is defined as "a global treasure hunting game where participants locate hidden physical containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share their experience online." When I first started geocaching, smartphones didn't exist so I'd print out a map, grab my Garmin GPS, and head out to the field. For the last few years, there has been a boom in iPhone apps for geocaching. Here are five apps to help you enjoy finding those hidden caches.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Verizon clearing out iPhone 4 accessories ahead of next gen

Verizon clearing out iPhone 4 accessories ahead of next gen - Verizon is already trying to clear out iPhone 4 accessories in advance of a next-generation phone, a source claims. In particular the carrier is reportedly discounting accessory bundles, which in turn is said to be a common sign that the company is phasing inventory out. The source adds that people should expect Verizon to lower the costs of individual accessories ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

1Password redesigns Safari plug-in for 5.1 as extension

1Password redesigns Safari plug-in for 5.1 as extension - Agile Bits, makes of the popular 1Password utility, had already brought Lion support and Safari 5.1 support to its product before either was actually released, but updated its blog post on the topic to keep readers informed on issues that have come up with the inevitable changes. The Safari plug-in for 1Password was completely re-designed for Safari v5.1 as a "proper" extension, and as a result is still missing a few features from the previous version ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Upload contacts to Google+ via your address book

Upload contacts to Google+ via your address book - You can now add more potential contacts to your Google+ network by uploading your address book from Microsoft Outlook and other e-mail clients.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

How to Burn a Lion Install DVD and Create Bootable Thumb Drive

How to Burn a Lion Install DVD and Create Bootable Thumb Drive -

Lion is Apple’s first disc-less distribution of Mac OS X. While that's great for folks with broadband, for others it can be a pain. You could wait until August and get a USB drive from Apple for $69 or you could download Lion once and create an install disc or drive.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

How to make a bootable Lion install disc or drive

How to make a bootable Lion install disc or drive - How to make a bootable Lion install disc or drive Though you can install Lion directly from your Mac's hard drive, a bootable installer drive or DVD can be more convenient for installing Lion onto multiple Macs, and if your Mac is experiencing problems, a bootable installer makes a handy emergency disk or disc.

(Via Macworld.)

Review: iO Dock

Review: iO Dock - Review: iO Dock Musicians seeking a way to easily connect multiple music making devices to their iPad have a solution in Alesis' iO Dock.

(Via Macworld.)

Kobo to continue as Borders is liquidated

Kobo to continue as Borders is liquidated - Kobo to continue as Borders is liquidated Customers who bought Borders ebooks via Kobo Books may not suffer too much immediate impact from the liquidation of Borders, but questions remain about how the loss of the bookseller will impact Kobo

(Via Macworld.)

How to archive your tweets

How to archive your tweets - How to archive your tweets Twitter's a great way to keep up on what's happening. But what about what happened a while ago? Kirk McElhearn looks at a few of the ways you can search and archive your past Twitter-stream.

(Via Macworld.)

Kobo trying to untangle itelf from Borders mess

Kobo trying to untangle itelf from Borders mess - Kobo powers Borders e-bookstore and e-reading apps. Now that Borders, which still holds an equity stake in Kobo, is liquidating, Kobo is doing its best to migrate Borders' digital book customers to its platform while contending with some murky issues surrounding Borders' minority stake.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Google+ arrives on the App Store

Google+ arrives on the App Store - A native app for Google+ has arrived for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Unlike the browser-based version, this one includes push notifications and a photo uploader to let you add photos from your phone or mobile device.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Mac OS X Lion will be available on USB thumb drive for $69 in August

Mac OS X Lion will be available on USB thumb drive for $69 in August - For those who want to have their copy of Lion saved on a physical medium, Apple will make the Mac OS X upgrade available on a USB thumb drive through its online store in August, but at a cost more than twice the price of the Mac App Store.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Monday, July 18, 2011

Apps in our lives: Audio Hijack Pro

Apps in our lives: Audio Hijack Pro -

"Recording" is the phrase that many people think of when then hear Audio Hijack Pro. This venerable Mac app has been helping users record system audio for years. But if recording is all you think of, you're missing a large part of what AHP can do for you.

Yesterday, I installed Spotify, the new ad-supported on-demand music player, in order to give the application a spin. Almost immediately I started up a hijack session as well. And it wasn't about recording.

With Audio Hijack Pro running, not only did I instantly have one-click muting -- a big help during the workday when phone calls come in regularly -- but I also was able to tweak my volume and adjust the playback bass and treble independently. AHP offers over a dozen real-time filter effects that allow you to fine-tune your audio in real time.

Eventually I found the Spotify setting that caused me to turn to Audio Hijack Pro in the first place -- in the Sound preferences, the app defaults had "Set the same volume level for all tracks" checked -- but even after I resolved that, I left AHP running in the background automatically adjusting Spotify's audio stream to my preferences.

You can also use Audio Hijack Pro with Airfoil to stream Spotify to your home stereo speakers. Rogue Amoeba has posted a how-to over at their site.

Audio Hijack Pro costs $32, and offers a free trial period.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

How to Print from iOS Devices Directly to Dropbox

How to Print from iOS Devices Directly to Dropbox -

Printopia is a small System Preferences pane that, once installed, will give you access to non-AirPrint printers directly from your iOS device, but also includes a feature to print directly to your Dropbox folder on your Mac. With this feature, whenever you print, a PDF file will be immediately transfered to your Mac's Dropbox folder and opened.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Amazon unveils Kindle Textbook Rental

Amazon unveils Kindle Textbook Rental - Amazon unveils Kindle Textbook Rental Amazon on Monday launched Kindle Textbook Rental, which allows customers to save money on textbook ebooks by renting them from the Kindle Store, instead of buying them outright.

(Via Macworld.)

Snell: The shuttle and the stuff of dreams

Snell: The shuttle and the stuff of dreams - Snell: The shuttle and the stuff of dreams Jason Snell went to the space shuttle launch last week. Here are his notes on the experience.

(Via Macworld.)

Skype, Google mum on delays of important iOS apps

Skype, Google mum on delays of important iOS apps - Skype and Google are refusing to comment on the status of new but significantly delayed iOS apps, statements from spokespeople show. Google revealed that it had submitted a Google+ app to Apple at least two weeks ago, but the title has yet to appear on the App Store despite the marketing and momentum attached to the social network. The launch of a Skype iPad app was anticipated on June 28th, following months of testing, but is also missing in action ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Friday, July 15, 2011

SpaceX breaks ground on Falcon Heavy launch site

SpaceX breaks ground on Falcon Heavy launch site - The company says that the launch site will be at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. The company hopes to have the Falcon Heavy at the site by the end of 2012.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Watch iPhone owners travel around Europe

Watch iPhone owners travel around Europe -

Over 800 iPhone owners donated their location information to Michael Krell of Crowdflow. He took this data plotted it on a map and set it in motion. It's captivating to watch the firefly-like blips move here and there across the region. Check out the video.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

How to photograph jewelry with an iPhone 4

How to photograph jewelry with an iPhone 4 -

You know those beautiful photos of jewelry that you see in ads and catalogs? The folks at Modahaus wanted to see if their table top studios could be used with an iPhone 4 to make images that would be good enough for a professional photographer to sell. The results were astonishingly good.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Police adopting iPhone-based facial-recognition device

Police adopting iPhone-based facial-recognition device -


Police in the U.S. may soon have a new mobile tool to aid in the identification of criminals. It's called MORIS, Mobile Offender Recognition and Information System, and includes both a retinal scanner and camera to scan suspects from as far as five feet away. The system is powered by an iPhone which attaches to the device. When fully assembled, it weighs 12.5 ounces.

MORIS will replace conventional identification procedures which require an officer to take a picture, download it to a computer and run facial recognition software on the image. The new device does all this on the fly and in one relatively small package. It was create by BI2 Technologies, a small company from Plymouth, Mass, and uses facial recognition software from Conway, NH-based Animetrics.

Privacy advocates are leery of the device which can scan individuals from a distance possibly without their consent. Officers, though, view the technology as necessary. "If the purpose is to determine instantly an individual's identity and determine whether they are wanted or have serious criminal history, that is not only a desirable use, it is an important use," says Bernard Melekian, director of the COPS program. "To simply collect information on individuals to add to the database would not in my opinion be a desirable use of the technology."

The MORIS device is expected to launch commercially by the end of the year and cost US$3000 per unit.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Seven Netflix alternatives

Seven Netflix alternatives - Netflix recently announced price increases that upset a lot of customers, to say the least. Whether or not you're planning to cancel your own Netflix account, it's good to know what alternatives are out there. Let's take a look at seven Netflix alternatives.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Ten useful Firefox extensions

Ten useful Firefox extensions - Ten useful Firefox extensions David Daw looks at ten of the most useful Firefox add-ons, all of which strike the right balance by increasing performance and saving time.

(Via Macworld.)

How to Make the Switch to Google+

How to Make the Switch to Google+ -

Google+ is slowly becoming the new go-to social network. So much so, that you might be feeling left out of the scene because you just have no idea what's going on or what to actually use Google+ for. We put together a helpful little primer to get you started on Google's new social network, to get you all "plus one" in no time!

Why Google+?

Obviously, if you are comfortable with your current social network, you should stick with it, but if you’re looking to branch out, then Google+ is a great place to do that.  The new social network from Google has plenty of features to entice anyone who's apart of the ecosystem and utilizes Gmail, Docs and Google's other services on a frequent basis. Google+ also has a nifty feature that lets you "hang out" on a video chat with several friends at once.

However, no amount of features can make a social network worth joining. You’ll want to see how many of your friends are on the social network first to see if it’s worth your time to join. Without any friends, the features are useless. But if you really need some friends, you could always invite yours with the helpful link on the right-hand side.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Google+ officially tops 10 million users

Google+ officially tops 10 million users - Google's new foray into social networking is officially a hit. The company has announced that it had officially surpassed 10 million users.

(Via CNET News.com.)

5 Desktop Apps That Let You Post to More than One Social Network

5 Desktop Apps That Let You Post to More than One Social Network -

It's 2011 and there is a certain concession a lot of us have to make: social networking sites and platforms dominate a fair part of our computing existence. That being said, why not find a Mac OS X app that allows you to update multiple social networking sites at once. Notify all of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other microcosms of your present awesomeness, all with the touch of one button from one desktop application. Here are five Mac OS X apps that pull this feat off in fine style.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Griffin announces a $50 iOS-controlled helicopter

Griffin announces a $50 iOS-controlled helicopter -

It has no built-in camera beaming video back to your iPhone, and it isn't controlled via Wi-Fi. There are no augmented reality apps that come with it, nor is there (as far as we know) a way to hack the firmware. It only has two full-size rotors instead of four. Despite all of these shortcomings, Griffin's upcoming AppPowered Helo TC may be a popular iOS accessory this Christmas season.

Why? The price. It's much less expensive than the device that I'm comparing it to -- the Parrot AR.Drone. Sure, for US$50 you're not getting a lot (as there are plenty of these without iOS control on the market), and you have to slap an IR transmitter containing 4 AAA batteries onto your iPhone or iPod touch, but one-sixth of the price of the AR.Drone, you can still get the thrill of annoying your pets and significant other.

You can fly the Helo TC at night thanks to five LEDs, and Griffin thoughtfully provides extra rotors to replace those you break while learning to fly it properly.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Amazon to take on Apple with own 9-inch Android tablet by holidays

Amazon to take on Apple with own 9-inch Android tablet by holidays - Amazon.com plans to introduce its own brand of tablet computer ahead of the holiday shopping season, a move which is sure to intensify competition with new-found rival Apple.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Monday, July 11, 2011

Apple Releases Update for iLife '11

Apple Releases Update for iLife '11 -

iLife '11 Update ReleasedApple released a 363.4 MB update to the iLife '11 suite of Mac Apps today. Well, for most of the iLife apps, anyway. Addressing some "general compatibility issues" as well as "overall stability and performance issues," the update is geared for Garage Band, iPhoto, and iMovie. Updates to the dead-man-walking apps iWeb and iDVD are not included in the release.

The release brings Garage Band to version 6.0.4, iPhoto to version 9.1.5, and iMovie to version 9.0.4. The bulk of the update, 220.83 MB goes to iPhoto, with Garage Band and iMovie receiving 53.72 MB and 76.20 MB, respectively.

The updates, which can be downloaded and installed while you work and do not require a reboot, can be accessed through Software Update on your Mac, or directly from the Apple website here. But as always, remember to save your work before updating.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Google+ hit with spam bug

Google+ hit with spam bug - Google+ hit with spam bug The Google+ social networking site malfunctioned this weekend, spamming SOME of its users with repeated notifications via e-mail.

(Via Macworld.)

Get Lion's new scrolling in Snow Leopard today

Get Lion's new scrolling in Snow Leopard today - Get Lion's new scrolling in Snow Leopard today When Lion hits the streets, it will bring with it a new way of scrolling. Start acclimating yourself now with a free add-on for Snow Leopard.

(Via Macworld.)

Privacy experts praise Google+ rollout so far

Privacy experts praise Google+ rollout so far - Privacy experts praise Google+ rollout so far After major privacy failures in its Buzz and Street View services, Google has hit the right notes with its deliberate, measured roll out of its new Google+ social networking service, privacy experts say.

(Via Macworld.)

HP said first with ultrabooks to pip MacBook Air

HP said first with ultrabooks to pip MacBook Air - Part supplier chain leaks Monday have hinted that HP is not only hoping to get into Intel's new ultrabook category but could preempt ASUS' UX21. HP is reportedly planning at least two of the MacBook Air-inspired ultraportables using the new ultra-low voltage Core i7s. Foxconn would handle the production and was reported by Digitimes as already shipping the first wave ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Sunday, July 10, 2011

How to Fight Procrastination With iProcrastinate

How to Fight Procrastination With iProcrastinate -

Procrastination is a major killer. You might be the fastest worker in the office, but if you’re not actually, you know, working, you’re in for some long nights. If you’re a chronic procrastinator, there’s little-to-no chance you’re going to take the extra time to fill out complex to-do lists to get your work in order. That’s where iProcrastinate comes in.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

How to back up your Gmail

How to back up your Gmail - How to back up your Gmail Are you one network outage away from losing all your email archives? Joe Kissell shows you how to minimize your chances of losing email by backing up the contents of your Gmail account.

(Via Macworld.)

Why things are looking good for Verizon

Why things are looking good for Verizon - When earnings report start in two weeks, Verizon is expected to be the standout among big carriers. CNET explains why.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Friday, July 8, 2011

Five key Google+ privacy settings

Five key Google+ privacy settings - Five key Google+ privacy settings CIO's Kristin Burnham looks at five important Google+ privacy settings that let you manage who can email you directly, how you're notified of Google+ actions, how to disable the Google+ service, and more.

(Via Macworld.)

Report: iPad 'HD' to sit alongside iPad 2

Report: iPad 'HD' to sit alongside iPad 2 - New report claims Apple plans to introduce an iPad later this year that will sport a "Retina Display," and will sit alongside existing iPad 2 models.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Facebook Video Calling will replace Skype client for most Mac users

Facebook Video Calling will replace Skype client for most Mac users -

Facebook launched a bunch of new features Wednesday, including group chat, a redesigned chat user list, and the biggest of all, video chat via a partnership with Skype. It’s this last one that will have the biggest implications for most average Mac users.

I used Skype video calling approximately three minutes after it launched (with pal and web developer Wes Bos), and it worked perfectly. Installing the plugin on my iMac required a tiny Java app download that’s virtually foolproof to use, and making and receiving calls is as simple as clicking a few buttons and confirming you want to share video.

Video chat doesn’t appeal to everyone. It works well for people who have close relationships with one another (like parents and children) and who live far enough away from each other that face-to-face interaction is rare. But when you add the complication that both parties have to install a dedicated app and have that app open and active, the pool of people who’ll actually use it are even smaller. With Facebook chat, if they’re in your network, they’re potentially available for video calling. No Skype registration, no calling people ahead of time to tell them to open the Skype client so that you can call them, since people are much more likely to be Facebook users (there’s 750 million of them, Facebook announced today) and online at any given time on that site.

Skype’s Mac client also isn’t winning over any fans in terms of its design, mainly because that design feels unnecessarily cumbersome. Facebook’s Skype integration is the opposite of that: It’s invisible, blending in with Facebook’s web presence without drawing too much attention to itself or changing the Facebook experience that users are comfortable with.

For both the above reasons, I think Facebook Video Calling will unseat Skype as the video chat option of choice for Mac users, at least when it comes to consumers. Pro users might need the advanced Skype features offered through the dedicated Mac app, but some of those might make it to Facebook eventually, too, it was suggested at today’s press conference. And things like calling out to landlines and cell phones might be better handled through Skype’s smartphone clients anyway.

Facebook still has to bring video calling to groups and mobile, but the groundwork is laid for that to happen, and while some are saying Google+ is still in the lead thanks to its Hangouts group video chat, I think that’s underestimating Facebook’s advantage in terms of its huge network size lead.

I’m seeing a lot of negative reaction to this announcement on Twitter in general, but I think it will do wonders for the adoption of video calling among less techie users. What do you think?

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

RichardSolo promo gets you 1800 mAh iPhone backup batteries on the cheap

RichardSolo promo gets you 1800 mAh iPhone backup batteries on the cheap -

Richard Thalheimer's company RichardSolo was one of the pioneers of the iPhone backup battery business. Way back in 2008, the company came out with the RS001 1800 mAh backup battery, at a price of US$69.95. Well, if you live in the USA and use a special promo code while ordering, you can now get this battery pack for as little as $5.09.

These are very useful backup batteries for the iPhone. They come with a built-in laser pointer, an LED flashlight, a dual voltage 110-240V AC wall charger, a USB/mini-USB retractable charge cable, a dual port USB car charger, and small support braces for most generations of the iPhone that can be used to hold the battery pack to the phone. The battery packs also work with all iPod models that use the Dock connector.

If you buy one, the price is $5.98, but for two or more the price drops to $5.09. Once again, the deal is only valid for US customers, and it ends at midnight on July 31st, 2011 or when supplies are exhausted. To get the deal, enter the code word fireworks into the coupon code box while checking out. For more details and to order your backup batteries, visit the product page for the RS001.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

How to Sync External Folders with Dropbox

How to Sync External Folders with Dropbox -

Dropbox is great for cloud document storage, but what if you want to integrate a few other folders as well? Fortunately, there's a Mac app called DropLink that lets you link your Dropbox folder and an external folder on your Mac. Let's do this.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

App Showdown: flickr Uploaders

App Showdown: flickr Uploaders -

 

flicker apps

Long before cloud storage was a thing, there was flickr, an online place to store and share photos. You'd go on vacation, take a bunch of snaps, then move them to your hard drive, then on to flickr.com. But more and more we take photos with our iOS devices, so what about those pictures? Can we marry iOS's mobility with flickr's storage and sharing?

 

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Getting started with Facebook video calling

Getting started with Facebook video calling - Getting started with Facebook video calling CIO shows how easy it is to get started with Facebook's new video calling feature and walks you through the privacy issues you'll need to consider about the service.

(Via Macworld.)

Final Shuttle launch carries iPhone 4, special app

Final Shuttle launch carries iPhone 4, special app - Final Shuttle launch carries iPhone 4, special app The final Space Shuttle launch will include two slightly modified iPhone 4s bound for the International Space Station.

(Via Macworld.)

Facebook introduces Skype video calling

Facebook introduces Skype video calling - Facebook introduces Skype video calling Facebook on Wednesday announced a new video chat capability it will roll out in conjunction with Skype, in what the social-networking giant said is the first announcement of many new applications to come in the next few months.

(Via Macworld.)

Seven cool and useful iPhoto '11 plug-ins

Seven cool and useful iPhoto '11 plug-ins - Seven cool and useful iPhoto '11 plug-ins Apple's iPhoto is a powerful tool on its own, but it can do even more with the right plug-in. These tools will help you share, edit, and manage your iPhoto library.

(Via Macworld.)

Facebook rolls out Skype-based video chat, group chat

Facebook rolls out Skype-based video chat, group chat - Facebook at its special event Wednesday brought out Skype-based video chat. The approach lets Facebook members hold one-to-one video calls between each other without having to load a separate app; complete newcomers should be talking in 30 seconds, Facebook says. The platform should also work tightly with an updated desktop app and, eventually, mobile versions ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Amazon offers unlimited Cloud music storage

Amazon offers unlimited Cloud music storage - Customers who pay for a storage plan will receive unlimited space for their MP3 and AAC music files. Also: Amazon brings the Cloud to iPad.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Learn camera settings with an online simulator

Learn camera settings with an online simulator - Learn camera settings with an online simulator The CameraSim photo simulation site teaches you how ISO, shutter, aperture, and other settings affect a photograph.

(Via Macworld.)

Follow the final space shuttle mission from your iOS device

Follow the final space shuttle mission from your iOS device - Follow the final space shuttle mission from your iOS device Space shuttle Atlantis’s upcoming STS-135 mission marks the end of the space shuttle program. GoSoftWorks’s GoAtlantis app helps you track the shuttle as it orbits the earth and you can help Hunter Research & Tracking map its trajectory using the company’s Theodolite apps.

(Via Macworld.)

Skype for Mac 5.2 gets group video calls, screen shares

Skype for Mac 5.2 gets group video calls, screen shares - Skype has now released the full-blown version of its latest software, Skype 5.2, for Macs. Like the beta version, it allows for group video calls but also now allows sharing of the screen during group calls. At the same time, group video call members can share documents, photos and other files. This feature does require the paid Skype Premium subscription, however ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

The secret life of white-space radio

The secret life of white-space radio - White-space radio may solve the country's broadband needs, but it requires some clever thinking.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Saturday, July 2, 2011

GoFlex Satellite review: Stormy weather for this personal cloud

GoFlex Satellite review: Stormy weather for this personal cloud -

The idea behind Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite  is pretty cool: a 500GB drive and a Wi-Fi transmitter in a small case, which can stream your media collection to up to three Wi-Fi enabled media players at the same time, including iPads , iPhones, and iPod touches.

So when Seagate sent me a Satellite to try out, I tested it by connecting to a first-generation iPad, a 3rd-gen iPod touch, and an Android phone. Unfortunately, I ran into significant problems. In fact, I ended up trying a second drive after Seagate had to replace the first one, but neither unit was satisfactory.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Capturing the "rocket's red glare" of fireworks with your iPhone camera this 4th of July

Capturing the "rocket's red glare" of fireworks with your iPhone camera this 4th of July -

With the 4th of July holiday rapidly approaching in the US it's time to think of both your backyard and big time municipal fireworks displays, and how to best capture them on your iPhone. The latest generations of cameras on the iPhone have greatly improved, and while still not up to high end DSLR quality, the built in 5 MP camera can take some extraordinarily good images.

Here's the basics, to make sure you get some keepers. First, the camera needs to be steady. It's too late to get hold of a special iPhone camera case with a tripod mount, but if you have one already, like the Gorilla Pod, you're in business. No tripod? You're not out of luck. Steady the iPhone on your lap, on a chair back, or on the roof of a car. If you have to hold it, it's a good idea to take a deep breath and hold it in while you are shooting the fireworks. No, not for a long time!

Your camera will have a tendency to follow the moving fireworks. Resist the temptation, and hold the camera steady when you take your picture. You don't want streaks and blurs caused by movement. If you have the latest iPhone 4 with HDR, turn it off. Fireworks happen quickly, you don't want multiple exposures slowing things down. And please, turn off the flash. Your little puny LED flash isn't going to illuminate the scene.

Before everything starts, decide if you are going to shoot landscape mode or portrait. If you are trying to capture the foreground crowd, landscape is fine. Most fireworks are set off vertically, so if you are shooting well above the horizon, portrait mode is best.

Digital zoom is a no no. It makes the picture larger, but increases the noise and decreases the quality. Stay at full wide with no digital zoom. The iPhone should auto-focus with no problem. If it doesn't tap the screen where the fireworks are, then hold steady and take your image.

Don't forget, the iPhone is also an excellent video camera. Many of the same rules apply. Try to hold the camera steady... and let the motion come from the fireworks, not from your camera. If you get some great pictures, leave us some links in Flickr, Picasa web albums or your MobileMe galleries. We'd like to highlight the best of them.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Some Apple Store employees unhappy with work conditions

Some Apple Store employees unhappy with work conditions -

Pleasant decor and friendly employees make most Apple stores seem bright and cheery. Behind the scenes, though, some stores are not as congenial as they seem, according to a report from In These Times.

Three Apple employees have come forward with a not-so-happy tale of what it is like to work at an Apple retail store. One worker complains about disparate pay with newly hired workers making more than experienced workers. When a few employees approached management about this issue, they were told "money shouldn't be an issue when you're employed at Apple" and their time at Apple "should be looked at as an experience."

Other workers describe Apple's tactic to keep health care costs low by defining full-time employees as those who work 40 hours per week and have open availability to work any day needed. If you have a restricted schedule, you are not considered full-time even if you put in a full 40 hours each week. Part-Timers are offered health benefits but the workers claim these plans are more costly than their full-time counterparts. Work schedules are inflexible and stores are often understaffed during prime hours.

The word union was mentioned, but the three employees avoided the word like the plague. The mere mention of it could cost them their job. Even if the workers are unhappy, they are reluctant to band together against Apple. The one exception is Cory Moll, who is working to unionize Apple's 30,000-strong work force starting with the store in which he works.

When reading this, keep in mind that these are the experiences of three employees. It is by no means a reflection of every Apple store across the world. There are 29,997 employees whose voices have yet to be heard.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Keep Track of the Weather with Your iOS Device

Keep Track of the Weather with Your iOS Device -

You look out the window and the sun is shining brightly and there’s not a cloud in the sky. You step out the door, your elbows are immediately covered in a thin layer of ice, and you can no longer feel your fingers. Yeah, the next time someone tells you to look out the window when you ask what the weather is, just poke them with your stubby frostbitten fingers.

The Weather Channel is awesome on the iPad.

This should really be a no brainer. The Weather Channel has been sharing its weather forecasts with us from their dedicated television channel, their site, and now on the iPhone and iPad (both free). The 10-day forecasts let you know that next Wednesday it’s going to rain and might not be the best day for a picnic, and the hourly forecasts for the next 12 hours are heaven for the obsessive weather nut. While the iPhone app is awesome, the iPad app is truly outstanding with videos and weather maps. For “what to wear” advice, we also like Swackett (free in the Mac App Store or a web app at swackett.com/app), which advises you whether to bring a coat, sweater, or jacket. Never again will you spend the day standing in a pool of your own sweat because you decided on a sweater instead of a T-shirt.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Report: Facebook connecting with Skype

Report: Facebook connecting with Skype - TechCrunch reports that Facebook is about to announce a browser-based video chat feature powered by Skype.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Friday, July 1, 2011

On re-purposing the increasingly useless eject key

On re-purposing the increasingly useless eject key -

The eject key sits in the upper right corner of most modern Apple keyboards. On my big iMac with its SuperDrive, it occasionally gets pressed when I need to kick out a backup DVD, but the rest of the time it sits alone. It's even worse on a MacBook Air. With no SuperDrive to speak of, the eject key was replaced with a tiny power button and the eject function moved to the F12 key next door. What do you do with a key that has outlived its usefulness? Give it another reason to live!

This all got started when one of the employees at Other World Computing, the folks who make all of those fast internal SSDs for MacBook Pros and other devices, had the optical drive on his 2011 MacBook Pro removed and replaced with an OWC Data Doubler + 750 GB hard disk drive. OWC's Erik was already enjoying a speedy 480 GB SSD as his startup drive in the MacBook Pro, but wanted the luxury of more storage.

With his eject key now taking up space and not paying the rent, Erik looked around and found a free app called KeyRemap4MacBook. The app remaps most of the non-alphanumeric keys on the Macbook keyboard to a set of different functions. Not only can you assign duplicate keys (Option and Command keys, for example) to perform different functions, but KeyRemap4MacBook makes keys do different things depending on what app you're currently using (note that you can already do this to a point using Keyboard Shortcuts in System Preferences).

Erik used the app to remap his eject key to be a forward delete key (Fn + Delete), and noted that if he does happen to have an external optical drive connected to the MBP, KeyRemap4MacBook thoughtfully provides a way to use the eject key as, well, an eject key.

One thing that KeyRemap4MacBook doesn't do is use a standard delay when pressed, so there's a companion app called NoEjectDelay by the same developer that clears the eject key delay.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Getting Started on Google+

Getting Started on Google+ - Like any new social network, it takes a little practice to share the right information with the right group of people. Here's a look out to get up and running on Google+ without looking like an oversharing n00b.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Establish a solid battery strategy for all your peripherals

Establish a solid battery strategy for all your peripherals -

Batteries are decidedly evil. My desk is littered with gear that requires them, and I’d be at a loss to watch movies, control my computer and television, and use many of my Mac peripherals without them. So how can you create a plan that will ensure you’re always ready when you need some juice?

I first thought I could get by using just my Apple battery charger and the batteries that come with it, but that proved woefully inadequate. For one thing, the Apple charger is quite particular about its charging, and often you’ll come back to find a flashing amber light, indicating that the charge wasn’t successful for some reason. For another, those Apple batteries don’t keep their charge long, so there’s no use preparing backups.

So to ensure my Apple Wireless Keyboards, Trackpads, Mighty Mice and third-party peripherals always have power at the ready, I’ve created the following three-point plan:

1. Too many batteries is impossible

I always seem to think I have enough batteries to satisfy all my needs, and then I end up needing more. Obviously, don’t go crazy, but always try to have at least four more batteries on hand than you have actual need of for devices. I’m primarily talking about rechargeable, NiMH batteries, but it never hurts to have a supply of alkalines for backup, too, in case you get caught between charging cycles.

2. Low self-discharge is your best friend

People who may have ditched rechargeable batteries years ago because of the headaches of cycling, battery memory, and batteries that rapidly lose charge have a good reason to come back. Low self-discharge batteries are now available, which can retain up to 85 percent of their charge for up to a year. They also often come pre-charged, so you can use them right away, and newer batteries don’t have the same problem with charge memory as their predecessors.

My personal recommendation for good low self-discharge batteries are the Powerex Imedion variety. They carry a high-capacity compared to most (2400mah) and should be longer-lasting in digital devices like cameras and computer peripherals.

3. Two chargers is better than one

Getting a good battery charger will always help you keep thing properly powered up. Again, Powerex is a good, dependable brand in my experience. Their chargers are a little more expensive than most, but they provide a wealth of customizable options so that you can extend the life of your batteries and save money in the long run. The WizardOne is a good place to start, providing four charging slots for either AA or AAA NiMH batteries, with a backlit panel that lets you select charge/discharge rates and perform advanced tasks like complete battery cycling and break-ins for new batteries.

But in addition to a good charger, I also have a bad one. The Duracell 15 Minute Charger actually does what it claims to, but it makes a lot of noise and gets quite hot. Note, however, that frequent use will degrade the quality and life of your batteries (hence the “bad” descriptor), which is why I use the Duracell for emergencies only (like when my keyboard dies and I’m on a tight deadline).

Batteries are probably the biggest limiting factor when it comes to the enjoyment of consumer electronics, which is why having a good battery plan in place is crucial for gadget-lovers. Now that I’ve shared mine, do you have any other suggestions to add?

(Via TheAppleBlog.)